While tooth extraction is something almost everyone has to go through, it can still be scary when your St. Petersburg dentist says they want to remove your wisdom teeth. These third molars, usually coming in during the late teenage years, can either be erupted (broken through the gum) or impacted (underneath the gums). These molars can cause a myriad of painful symptoms while other times they cause no problems at all for the patient. Regardless, you should have your dentist closely monitor them.
If your St. Petersburg dentist tells you that you need tooth extraction, you may be wondering what the benefits are for removing your wisdom teeth. Even if they have not caused any problems yet, there are many perks to this preventative procedure:
- When they do not grow straight up, these third molars can trap plaque and food pieces, causing tooth decay
- Impacted teeth have a propensity to harbor bacteria, causing periodontal, or gum, disease
- If they grow in crooked, they can cause other teeth to shift, effectively negating any orthodontic work you’ve had
- Partially erupted molars will have a piece of gum grow over it; this can trap food and become infected, causing swelling and pain
When you visit Dolphin Dental in St. Petersburg for tooth extraction, our dentist will perform a complete evaluation, including X-rays in order to view the exact position of the impacted molars. We understand that the thought of wisdom teeth removal is scary, but we aim to make you feel as comfortable as possible. During the procedure, don’t worry about pain; your mouth will be completely numb, and all you will feel is some mild pressure. The entire procedure generally takes one to two hours to remove all four teeth.
After your tooth extraction, you might feel groggy for a few hours, so you should arrange to have someone else pick you up. We will provide you will instructions on how to best avoid complications and relieve pain while you recuperate. Depending on the complexity of the procedure, you may also be prescribed pain medication and antibiotics.
At Dolphin Dental in St. Petersburg, our dentists do everything in their power to ensure patients feel safe, secure, and comfortable during their wisdom teeth removal. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, call us today at 727-393-9334.
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